Crusaders Drop Close Game To Bucknell, 57-52

WORCESTER, Mass. -- Bucknell guard Charles Lee totaled 24
points, seven rebounds and four steals, to lead the Bison to a
57-52 victory over the Holy Cross men's basketball team. Following
the game, Lee received the Martin J. O'Malley Award as the Most
Valuable Player of Holy Cross' Winter Homecoming game. The
Crusaders fall to 14-11 overall and 7-3 in the Patriot League with
the loss, while the Bison improve to 20-3 overall and 11-0 in the
conference.

Holy Cross started the game hot, jumping out to an 8-2 lead
after the first three minutes of play. The Crusaders would increase
their advantage to as many as 11 points on three occasions in the
opening half, before Bucknell rallied to make the score 33-25 at
the break. Coming out of the locker room, Holy Cross used a 7-0 run
to expand its lead to 15 points (40-25) with 16 minutes left. The
Crusaders were still up by 12 (43-31) at the 11:47 mark, when the
Bison went on a 7-0 run to make it a five-point game.

Bucknell tied the score at 48-48 with 4:05 left on a
three-pointer by Abe Badmus, before senior guard Kevin Hamilton
(Queens Village, N.Y.) hit a three-pointer of his own to put Holy
Cross back in front. But Lee then made a layup, and Kevin
Bettencourt followed with a three-pointer to give the Bison their
first lead of the day, 53-51 with two minutes remaining. Bucknell
then hit four of five free throws down the stretch to clinch the
victory.

Hamilton finished the game with 12 points and six rebounds,
while junior guard Keith Simmons
(Kingston, N.Y.) added 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore center Tim Clifford
(Walpole, Mass.) also had a solid game for Holy Cross, finishing
with 10 points and three rebounds.

The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 15, when they
play host to Navy in a 7:00 p.m. contest at the Hart Center.

College of the Holy CrossDepartment of Athletics 1 College Street Worcester, MA 01610